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Incredible Sense of Smell and Vision in Disease-Causing Mosquitoes is an Alarm for the Future Species, finds Study

Submitted by Sophia Turner on Sun, 07/19/2015 - 04:42

Mosquitoes have been considered to be the prime source of numerous diseases and deaths occurring in and around the world. This rising alarm boosted researchers to study the behaviour of mosquitoes and methods by which they track down their victims.

According to the University of Washington, mosquitoes first use their powerful sense of smell to track down their hosts and later on, sight to identify the species on which they breed.

Jim Riffell, a researcher from the same university, studied the mystery behind the behaviour of mosquitoes by using wind tubes that released carbon dioxide. His findings revealed that mosquitoes are attracted to this exhaling gas, which orients them to their tracked down host.

A mere 30 feet distance is enough for a mosquito to sense this gas and bite its potential blood donor leading to their reproduction. The vision helps this insect to discriminate among different species whether it is a host or animal.

The researchers opined that future studies could be aimed at studying the biting techniques that may vary based on different genus. Scientists also plan to study the brain response of this insect to different types of smell, so that a possible solution is made against their reproduction. They intend to create a classification of the smells that attract or repulse these mosquitoes.

A list of findings needs to be fabricated so that the best methods can be opted by the doctors to help the people suffering from this epidemic. Once identified, these would not just be of use to medical experts but also to victims.